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For me, every hour is grace. And I feel gratitude in my heart each time I can meet someone and look at his or her smile. –Elie Wiesel survivor of Auswitch concentration camp WWII Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. –Melody Beattie As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them. –JFK
God is still speaking …
No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey …
You are welcome here! A SPECIAL WARM WELCOME TO OUR GUESTS!
Thank you for joining us today! We hope that you feel the warmth of God’s spirit here as we worship together! Please complete the form (in the pew) to let us know a little more about you and place it in the offering plate. As our guests this day it is the only offering we ask. If you should have a prayer concern or would like to meet with the Pastor please indicate this next to your name. Thank you!
Following worship please join us in Fellowship Hall for an informal Continental Breakfast.
Please note our worship services are online and televised, your participation in the service may be visible during these live ministries. If you should not wish your child to be on screen, please refrain from sending them forward during the children’s time or have them sit directly in front of the pews in the front.
Large print bulletins and hearing devices are available. Please ask an usher.
An elevator is at your disposal for all levels; our west entrance has a ramp.
Children are welcome in worship; however, should your child grow restless feel free to sit with them in the Parlor at the rear of the Sanctuary.
Nursery/childcare is available for children up to age 2 and is located just off the hall of the main Sanctuary.
Children are invited to attend Sunday School following the Children’s Message. Classes are offered for all ages.
Today’s Sunday School: This week, 3 years – 4 ½ years in room 202, 4 ½ years – K in room 203, 1st & 2nd grade in the Chapel, 3rd & 4th grade in room 603 and the 5th & 6th graders in the east half of the Youth Room, room 602.
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Please pass the clipboard in the pews. Sign in and sign up for events and let us know you’re here. PRELUDE ANNOUNCEMENTS Pastor Scott VIDEO OF AWARENESS Hope’s Front Door STEWARDSHIP MOMENT Kaniewski Family *SHARING THE PEACE *OPENING SONG You Are Worthy of My Praise -Ruis CALL TO WORSHIP (Special) Pastor Scott SPECIAL MUSIC Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise -Arr McChseney Maria Carini with the Alleluia Ringers SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM Nathan Banda
Baptismal Song # 677 Child of Blessing, Child of Promise (verses 1 and 2) -Turner/Witt Invitation and Words of Blessing to the Baptized Questions of Faith Identity Congregational Response of Support (read in unison) Nathan, we thank God for you fearfully and wonderfully made in the image of the Living God. As your church family, we will do our best to walk with you as you grow in your journey with God as disciples. We will seek to live out the faith we profess with you, and to learn from your faith and life as you grow in your relationship with Jesus. We will pray for you and for your family We give thanks to God, rejoicing with the Holy Spirit, that as sisters and brothers in Christ, we can share this faith journey with you. Amen. Baptism Baptismal Song # 677 Child of Blessing, Child of Promise (verses 3 and 4) Gifts and Prayer Congregational Care and Pastor Scott Children Are Dismissed for Sunday School
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SCRIPTURE READING Jan Hessler Luke 17:11-21 SILENT MOMENT OF REFLECTION MESSAGE When We Realize What We’ve Got Pastor Scott
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE Pastor Scott Silent Prayer Prayer OFFERING OURSELVES AND OUR GIFTS TO GOD Pastor Scott Sharing Our Gifts with the Offertory Offertory Music Battle Hymn of the Republic -Steffe
The Band Vocalists: Brett Owen, Harriet Plumpp, Anthony Berg, and Kelley Calpin *Presentation of the Gifts with Praise (sung in unison) To God, all glorious heavenly light, To Christ revealed in earthly night, To God the Spirit now we raise, Our joyful song of thankful praise.
*Prayer of Dedication Pastor Scott *CLOSING SONG #577 Sing a New Church (verses 1,3, &5) -Dufner/Wyeth *BENEDICTION Ancient Words - Deshazo One of our worship traditions to show our solidarity and love in community is to join hands and sing. If you are visiting with us, we invite you to join us in song and in spirit. *POSTLUDE I Will Bless the Lord -Pace The Band
OUR TIME OF WORSHIP TOGETHER HAS ENDED.
NOW MAY OUR CHRISTIAN SERVICE BEGIN!
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Today’s Musicians Vocals: Kelley Calpin and Anthony Berg
Percussion and Piano: Justin Kono Percussion: Lily West
New Church App
Download our new app on your iPhone or Android NOW! Just search for our church name. The app will keep you connected “real-time”.
PRAYER CONCERNS AND COMMUNITY JOYS For Baily Rose Butkus and her parents Mike and Kelly (Grandparents Jan and Rick Martin), Harold Laughlin recovering from back sugery, Rick and Genevieve Franz, Barb Bayer- recovering from a fall, victims of Suutherland Springs, TX terror attack, Residents of Puerto Rico
GREETERS: Laurie, Pete, Lake & Hunter Ernst, Candace & Larry Ferries USHERS: Judy Murrison, Kathy Mazzone, Lisa Lockett, Mark Lockett (HEAD USHER:) Tom Eisenhart COUNTERS: Heather Bilcer, Cliff Mazzone (Lead Counter) Adrienne Colvert
This week’s continental breakfast will be hosted by Morning Bible Study This week’s altar flowers are in memory of “our dear Leonard” from Virginia Johnson.
This Week’s Announcements A reminder of how this church community can help shape and change lives one family at a time. An update from our latest sponsored Bridge family.https://www.bridgecommunities.org/index.html Bad Girls Bible Study: We will continue meeting on Thursday’s in the Parlor at 2pm and 7pm until Thanksgiving week. I look forward to seeing anyone there who is able to join us for some fun & fascinating conversation! Night Ministry: November 26th & December 17th are the next two dates. We will also be collecting wool socks, waterproof gloves, warm hats and scarves and gently used winter coats.
This Thanksgiving please join us in celebrating with gratitude all the blessings we share. This year’s Ecumenical Thanksgiving service will be held on Tuesday November 21st at 7:30pm at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church. Non perishable foods will be collected for local food pantries. Please bring a pie or cookies to share at the event. Choir members are invited to participate in a community choir for the service. On Sunday November 26th Please consider making food or joining us for Food distribution for the Chicago Night
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Ministry- If you would like to go downtown, please sign up soon as space is filling up quickly. Blood Drive: Congregational Care would like to thank Ron Moravec and Mark Herrick for their help at the October 17th Blood Drive. Thanks again to Pat Lockett for providing delicious bar cookies for our snack table. Many thanks to the following 24! participants: Marty Schranz, Sandy Toleikis, J. Richard Toleikis, Mark Herrick, Pastor Scott, Joyce Doemland, Dave Doemland, AnnaMay Miller, Clint Mobley, Michelle Mobley, Roger Crisman, Scott Given, Ralph Anderson, Pat Armstrong, Ruth Poplar, William Sexton, Matt Newton, Judy Harry, Kathleen Travis, Dena Provenzano, Marc Provenzano, David Burke, Jill Aparo, Karen Nachtigall. Blood donations save lives! Please mark your calendars and plan ahead for our next Blood Drive on January 16! Blood can be donated every 8 weeks. Thank you! FCC Book Club: This December, we will once again partake in a shared dinner at Trudi Connick's home on Wednesday, December 13 at 6:30 PM. Trudi's home is at 718 39th Street in Downers Grove. The book selection is "A Week in Winter" by Maeve Binchy. Please call Trudi at 630-968-6916 to let her know you will be coming and also to let her know what dish you will bring to share. Looking forward to seeing all of you bibliophiles then!
On January 18, 2018, faith leaders from around the country will join together for National Day of Fasting and Witness in protest of Wendy’s executives’ ongoing and unconscionable refusal to join the Fair Food Program. Following what’s sure to be an exciting fall season in the Wendy’s campaign (with a major march to the New York City offices of Board Chair Nelson Peltz coming up on November 20!), this mobilization will galvanize faith communities nationwide into action – both in commemoration of the great strides that have been made over the course of our decades-long struggle for justice in the fields, and in advancement of the urgent campaign to bring Wendy’s into the Fair Food fold.. Please consider a fast along with CIW on January 18th to bring awareness with them.
Hope’s Front Door will be holding our 9th annual Toy Sale at St. Scholastica on Saturday, Nov. 25th and Sunday, Nov. 26th. We need new and gently used toys for the toy sale. Additionally, we will need 4 volunteers per day to wrap presents. We are also asking for donations of wrapping paper and ribbons/bows (can be dropped off on 6th floor in our office or outside of office door). Volunteers are asked to bring their own scissors and tape. Please contact Adrienne Colvert if you are interested in being a Rapper! Email: [email protected] or 630-795-0535. Thank You.
Bailey Gofundme: Kelly (Martin) Butkus and Mike Butkus, members of the church and daughter of Rick and Jan Martin recently had a baby girl- Bailey Rose Butkus. Bailey was born with many major health concerns: hole in her
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heart, one missing heart valve, and several other major health concerns. She is one month old. She has had two life saving surgeries thus far and is needing more. Her aunt has started a gofund me site to help her family through the myriad of medical expenses. We hope you are able to help. Here is the Go Fund Me page Laura set up for Bailey.https://www.gofundme.com/rfw25-baileys-medical-fund
Women's Fellowship - Ladies of the Morning and Evening: Stitch and Chat in the Parlor Friday, November 17, from about 9:30-11:30 am. You don't need to bring anything to stitch, but can just hang out and chat. This is a very casual gathering. Come if and when you can, even if for only a few minutes. Questions? Contact me, Peggy Gutzke Home: 630/971-1382 Cell:630/632-3014 [email protected]
Faith Builders Group: A new Christian Education opportunity to share in prayer, read scripture and share our experiences with it as we grow together as disciples each Thursday at 10am in the Library with Pastor Scott. Irma Fund Information: Ken Klindtworth and Joslyn Kirkegaard (630.215.5467) are a part of the local relief efforts of Irma along with Pastor Jim and Kirk of the Keys Church. If you would like to support this effort make all checks payable to our church with Irma Fund in the memo.
UPCOMING Christian Education Opportunities: Sundays following service we’ll have a discussion group each Sunday around preaching issues that face the church today. NOTE: Many of these sermons are edgy and controversial- the idea is to elicit conversation and reaction and to wrestle with the challenges they propose. I hope that you will consider coming to one or more of these opportunities to engage and share with your church family. November 12th: Relinquishment and Reception Walter Brueggemann November 19th : What the Wing Says Barbara Brown Taylor
Chancel Flowers: Did you know that the flowers displayed on the Chancel are donated by church members? Everyone is invited to donate flowers in joy, celebration or remembrance of a loved one. The cost to donate is $35.00 and there is a sign up calendar on the bulletin board on the Sanctuary level, south entrance. When you donate a floral arrangement you are encouraged to take it home with you following service so that you may enjoy its purpose. We do ask, however that you return the vase so that we can recycle them with the florist. Any questions, please see Linda Schranz or Barb Hammack.
Amazon Smile: When you shop @AmazonSmile, Amazon will make a donation to First Congregational United Church of Christ. https://smile.amazon.com/ch/36-2361106
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MANNA: MANNA CARD CHANGES! The Manna company we have been using has been acquired by Great Lakes Scrip Center. There are some changes that will make it easier to purchase Manna Cards and support our church. Here is the website for the new company- shop.shopwithscrip.com/. You can use this to order cards on your own. Orders received by Tuesday night can be picked up on Sunday morning. You can also use the website to reload some of the cards you purchase. Check out the list of merchants and the percent they give back to our church on the website. Remember you pay for the amount you receive, so it is easy to help the church budget at no cost to you. Follow these instructions to set up your account and begin ordering today. If you have questions, see us at the Manna Table on Sunday mornings. Go to https://shop.shopwithscrip.com/ click on the grey "register" button in the upper right hand corner, click on the left side Join a scrip program. Use the enrollment code 92A2CLLA55623. You can create your logon information. Once you create your account you can order by clicking the "shop" button. If you sign up for Presto Pay, which is their ACH system you can order and pay online. You will need to go through their security process to sign up. If you do not want to sign up for Presto Pay you can email orders to Laurie Olsen [email protected] and Steve Johnson [email protected].
Greater Chicago Food Depository Wednesday Night Repack: Join church members each Wednesday evening from 6:00 – 9:00 pm for a food repack session. The Greater Chicago Food Depository is located at 4100 W. Ann Lurie Place, which is just off the Stevenson Expressway at Pulaski Road. For more information, contact David Hersemann at [email protected], or Laurel Carlson at [email protected].
Christian Witness in Society: Make a positive difference. UCC.org examines current justice issues within the call to be the hands and feet of Jesus in today’s world, and offers opportunities to take personal action. Receive weekly justice action alerts from the UCC by going to ucc.org. Click on “Advocate for Justice,” then click on “Take Action.” You can receive justice alerts by email or text. Sign up. You CAN make a difference in the world.
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Coming Up This Week SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2017
10:30 AM Cherub Choir Rehearsal-Mayflower Room
10:45 AM - 11:30 AM Alleluia Ringers-Music Room
10:45 AM - 11:45 AM Praise Band Rehearsal-Sanctuary
11:00 AM Sunday Adult Discussion Group-Parlor
11:30 AM - 12:15 PM Junior Choir-Music Room
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2017
6:00 AM Acceptance Group of Alcoholics Anonymous-Coffee House
5:30 PM - 7:30 PM Martial Arts Chapel
6:00 PM PADS Overnight Guest-Fellowship Hall
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2017
6:00 AM Acceptance Group of Alcoholics Anonymous-Coffee House
7:00 AM PADS Departure- Fellowship Hall
10:00 AM Adult Coloring Group-Parlor
10:00 AM - 1:00 PM FCLC Thanksgiving Feast-Fellowship Hall
6:30 PM Building & Grounds Committee meeting-Room 503
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM 2nd Tues Song Circle-Two Way St Coffee House
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2017
6:00 AM Acceptance Group of Alcoholics Anonymous-Coffee House
9:00 AM - 11:00 AM Bible Study (at members' homes)
11:00 AM Church Staff Meeting-Library
12:00 PM Administrative Deadline for Bulletin
4:30 PM Administrative Deadline for Pilgrim
6:00 PM - 9:00 PM Greater Chicago Food Depository Wednesday Night Repack
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM Grounds of Hope Worship Service-Coffee House
7:30 PM - 9:00 PM Alanon meeting-Coffee House
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2017
6:00 AM Acceptance Group of Alcoholics Anonymous-Coffee House
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM FCLC Jumpbunch Chapel
10:00 AM Faith Builders Group -A New Christian Education Opportunity-Library
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM Bad Girls of the Bible-Parlor
7:00 PM Bad Girls of the Bible-Parlor
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM Chancel Choir Rehearsal-Choir Room
7:00 PM Scouts-Fellowship Hall
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2017
6:00 AM Acceptance Group of Alcoholics Anonymous-Coffee House
9:30 AM Ladies of the Morning & Evening Stitch and Chat-Parlor
5:00 PM Troop 55 Annual Electronics Activity Night-Fellowship Hall over-night stay
5:30 PM - 7:30 PM Martial Arts Chapel
8:15 PM Two Way Street Concert-Coffee House
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2017
- 8:00 AM Troop 55 Annual Electronics Activity Night-Fellowship Hall departure
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM Martial Arts Chapel
12:00 PM - 4:00 PM All Bridge Saints-Fellowship Hall/Kitchen
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM Sing Around-Coffee House
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An Open and Affirming Congregation 1047 Curtiss Street, Downers Grove, IL 60515 • 630-968-0358
OUR CHURCH STAFF The Rev. Scott Oberle, Senior Pastor ........................................... [email protected] Rev. Kim Whisler-Vasko, Assoc. Minister of Faith Formation [email protected] Cathy Sanders, Minister of Pastoral Care and Visitation ............. [email protected] Kelley Calpin, Director of Music Ministries ..................................... [email protected] Maria Carini, Assistant to the Minister of Music ............................ [email protected] Dena Provenzano, Director of Youth Ministries .................. [email protected] Leslie McFarland, Administrative Secretary ................................. [email protected] Kimberly Rutter, Bookkeeper ....................................................... [email protected] Carl Lorek, Custodian/Maintenance Supervisor ................................... [email protected] Kim Choate, Director, First Congregational Learning Center ... [email protected] Dave Humphreys, Two Way Street Coffee House ................ [email protected] Bill Hammack, A-V Specialist ............................................................. [email protected] Len Potter, Broadcasting Ministries .................................................. [email protected] Justin Kono, Band Director ......................................................... [email protected] The Rev. Dr. Robert D. Schieler, Pastor Emeritus
Our church staff is available Monday – Thursday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. and Fridays by appointment.
Office Phone: 630-968-0358 Office E-mail: [email protected]
In pastoral emergencies, Pastor Scott can be reached at 630-432-0380.
•Visit our weekly Sunday Service on channel 6 each Sunday at 11:30am or view the service online at www.uccfn.org
Website: www.uccdg.org
First Congregational Learning Center FCLC Website: www.fclcdg.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/fclcdg
twitter.com/ uccdg facebook.com/uccdg Donate
